Improvement in ice-machines



2Sheets--Sheetl. F. V. De COPPET. !ce-Machines. No.148,675. PatentedMa.ch7,8M.

2 Sheets--Sheet 2.

F. V. De GO PPET.

les-Machines.

Pa.tented March17,1874.

FRANCS V. DE COPPET, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ICEMACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 148,675, dated March 17, 1874; application fi1ed November 13, 1871.

T0 all whom z't may concern:

Re 11; known that I, FRANCIS V. DE Cor- 11flT, of New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State of Louisiana, have invented certain Improvements in Ice-Wlachines, of Which the following is a specification:

The objeot of my invention is, first, to pro- Yide for ice-maohines using anhydrous ammoniacal vapors a piston-paoking s0 constructed that the fibrous or rubber portion thereof Will at all times be shielded from contact with the vapor by glycerine, or other similar non-deteriorating liquid, used as a lubricant as well as a liquid packing; and, secondly, to furnish automatic means for supplying the piston and its rod with the lubricant With0ut waste.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of so much of an ice-machine of the character stated as Will illustrate 1ny improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the pump. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 illustrates, in difierent views, the valve-chamber bonnets. Fig. 5 shows, in section, elevation, and plan the construction of the piston. Fig. 6 repre sents the valve and its scat. Figs. 2 to 6 are drawn on an enlarged seale.

The same letters of reference indicate identical parts in all the figures.

' The bed-plate A supports the steam-cylinder B and pump O;the pistons of which are attached to the opposite ends of the single piston-rod. The ammoniacal vapors are drawn by the pump from the refrigerating-vessel through the pipe G, and are exhausted into the coil of the condenser D through the pipe H. The piston of the pump is supplied With the lubrieant from the closed cup S, attached to the induction-pipe G between the pump and the stop-cool; C. The lubricant passes through the valves into the barrel or cylinder of the pump, and any surplus is discharged therefrom, through the exhaust-pipe H,'into the trap E, whioh is connected by a dip-pipe,

6, with the induction-pipe G. The piston-rod is lubricated from the covered cup Z, which is attached to the stuffing-box of the head of the pump-cylinder, and is also in communica- J tien, through a pipe, 0, With the inductionpipe G.

Sheet 2, 1 and 1 represent the openings in the side pipes of the pump. J J J J represent the receiving and delivery valves in their respective chambers. K K K represent the piston as constructed. L represcnts the outer series of open packing-rings. m represents the inner series or backing-rings; these rings are out open also. M represents a sheet of india-rubber, enveloping the inner series or backing-rings. l l l l represent grooves or receptacles out on the outer circumference of the outer series of packing-rings.. i i z" i represent the valve-chamber bonnets. z i z' i represent the valve-chambers.

All attempts heretofore made to pack the piston of pumps or motor-cylinders With indiarubber or .fibrous packing, where anhydrous ammoniacal gas or vapor is used, or to be compressed' to liquefaction, have proved faiL ures after being used a short time, requiring almost daily attentions in repacking of piston, requirin g the removal of cylinder or pampcover, and the consequent loss of ammoniacal vapor, and the introduction of air; also, the large increase of friction when the piston is first packed With india-rubber or fibrous pack- 1n n C.he construction and operation of the piston-packin g are as follows: The piston-head is constructed of iron, and with a tightfitting follower, and in all respects similar to the pistonhead of a steam-engine that uses iron or steel packing-rings. These packin g and back ing rings are ont open in order that they can expand and contract like a spring, and are expanded ont against the cylinder by springs radiating out from the core of the piston-hem], coming in contact With the inner series or backing-rings. These rings are covered on their outer circumference with a sheet of india-rubber; the outer series of rings are slipped over them, enveloping the india-rubber, thus forming a tight joint between the two series of rings. The outer series of packing-rings have grooves or receptaoles out around their outer circumierence, for the purpose of catch ing and retaining the propylic alcohol or glycerine when it is used in connection With theni as a liquid packing, and at the same time serves as a lubricator. All other oils or fats, if used in direct contact with am1honia, wonld soon be converted to soap, and be nseless.

The valves of the pump have fiat faces, and are constructed in other respects substantially in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 6. Some of the glycerine in passing throngn them Will adhere to their faces and seats, and thns, in a mcasnre, serve both as a liquid seal and a cnshion.

The snpplying of propylic alcohol or glycerine to the piston-packing, and to the valves and their seats, is quite novcl, and you might say automatic in its action; it is as follows: A quantity of glycerine-say sevcral gallons at one operationis put in the cup S; thcn screw on the eovcr of the cap; then open the small cock between the cup and the inductionpipe G; the glycerine Will then fl0W by grav ity throngh the receiving side pipe and valves in the pnmp, and the movement of the pamppiston forces the glycerine aronnd the pistonpackin g, fillin g the receptaolcs or grooves in the packing-rings and the valves and their seats with glycerinc, and any surplus glycerine is forced on through the delivery side pipe, in and through pipe H in trap E, where it falls by gravity to the bottom of the trap, the ammoniacal vapor continnng on to tlge compression-coi], for compression to liquefaction.

To return the glycerine bacl: again to the piston-packing valves and seats continnally, and without loss of the ammoniacal vapor or glyccrine, open the cock on the small pipe 0, and the pressure on the surface of the glycerine in the trap Will force it throngh the small pipe 0 e in the inductionpipe G, and from thence, as before described; and when the glycerine becomes dece iorated byabsorbing moisture from the annnoniacal vapors, then it can be drawn off at cool: P for purification and use again.

The lnbricator Z is connected by a pipe with the cavity of the stnfngbox snrronnding the pistonrod of the pnmp, and thus supplies the rod with the necessam amount of glycerine or other lnbricant used. nccted by the pipe 0 With the induction-pipe G, so that any ammoniacal vapor finding its way to the cavity in the stuffing-box Wlll pass np throngh the lubricator, back into the induction-pipe, saving all leakage at this point.

I am aware that it has been heretofore proposcd to use glycerine as a lnbricant for pamppistons of this class et ice-machines, and do not, therefore, 110W claim snch use of glycer1ne.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secnre by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the pump C, exhaustpipe H, and trap E, snbstantially as and for the purpose spccified.

2, The combination of the cylindcr G,- exhaust-pipe H, trap E, clip-pipe c, and ii1dnc tien-pipe G, snbstantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. The arrangement of the lnbricator S above the induction-valves of the pnmp, so that the lnbricant, in fiowing through the pnmp, Wll bathe all the valves, as Well as the piston cherc- Cf, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with the stnffing-box of the pnmp, of the lubricator Z, pipe 0, and induction-pipe G, snbstantially as and for the pnrpose specified.

5. The herein-d scrib9d pistonpacking, composed of the split backing-rings m, rnbbcr cloth M, exterior split rings I, provided With annnlar grooves, and snitable springs for sctting out the packing, snbstantially as and for the pnrpese specified.

FRAICS VT. DE GOPPET.

Vit-messes:

SAMUEL Bacon, I. R. BECKWITH.

Its chamber is also con- 

